Uranium hexafluoride
| Identifiers | ||
|---|---|---|
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.029.116 | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
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| Properties | ||
| UF6 | ||
| Molar mass | 352.02 g·mol−1 | |
| Hazards | ||
| NFPA 704 |
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Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | ||
| Infobox references | ||
Uranium hexafluoride is a chemical compound made of uranium and fluorine. It has the chemical formula UF6. Uranium hexafluoride is important in uranium enrichment, which separates isotopes of uranium to make nuclear fuel and nuclear weapons.
Uranium hexafluoride is a white solid at room temperature, but turns into a gas at the relatively low 56.5 °C (133.7 °F).
Uses
Fluorine has only one stable isotope, meaning that any change in molecular mass between molecules of UF6 is because of the uranium atom. This allows isotopes to be physically separated based on their mass.
Gas centrifuges are used to separate different isotopologues of UF6, producing a stream containing "enriched" uranium-235 (and other fissile isotopes) and another containing "depleted" uranium-238.